QUEZON CITY, (PIA) — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) issued a warning to Filipino individuals aspiring to work abroad, urging them to be aware of the potential for being “enslaved” as encountered by victims of human trafficking in various Asian nations.
“They were literally enslaved… They were only allowed to use their phones for two hours in a day,” BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco revealed, expressing concern for these individuals who endured conditions akin to enslavement, where their access to communication was severely restricted.
The official specifically pointed to a recent incident involving a 30-year-old Filipino who had fallen victim to trafficking and was successfully repatriated from Myanmar. The victim had reportedly faced a daunting demand for over half a million pesos to secure his freedom, ultimately negotiating and paying a sum exceeding P168,000.
“He was required to pay more than half a million pesos for his release, which he negotiated and paid only more than P168,000 for his freedom,” he said.
The Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) recounted that the male victim had been coerced into working excessively long hours, spanning 16 to 18 hours daily, for an illicit operation revolving around romance scams and cryptocurrency.
Tansingco disclosed further harrowing details, revealing that failure to meet weekly quotas subjected the victim to physical torment, including exercises like push-ups and squat jumps, and even instances of electrocution.
“He was required to reach a weekly quota, otherwise, would be subjected to physical torture like push-ups, squat jumps, and electrocution,” he said.
The individual had embarked on his ill-fated journey in August of the previous year, departing the Philippines for Thailand; however, he was rerouted to Myanmar through maritime means.
The BI Commissioner attributed the victim’s unfortunate circumstances to an illegal recruitment process facilitated through social media. He emphasized that this case is not an isolated one, asserting that Filipino workers have encountered similar trafficking schemes linked to fraudulent overseas employment opportunities.
Highlighting the gravity of the issue, Tansingco acknowledged that this problem extends beyond national borders. He divulged that discussions concerning such trafficking operations have taken place among leaders of immigration bodies within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), indicating a concerted regional concern.
“This is a regional issue, and we have discussed ways to combat this with other countries that have observed this as well,” he said.
Simultaneously, Tansingco raised the prospect of these operations being associated with larger syndicates, as the issue has now reached the Philippines.
“We have raised the issue to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for investigation so we may put a stop to this syndicate,” he said.
It can be recalled that on Aug. 2, authorities conducted a raid on a Philippine offshore gaming operator service provider situated in Pasay City.
The operation unveiled approximately 650 individuals, encompassing both Filipino and foreign nationals, involved in various illicit activities.
Notably, one of the individuals apprehended had previously been rescued from a trafficking situation in Myanmar. According to the report, the Pasay hub workers were implicated in perpetrating romance scams, investment fraud schemes, and manipulative gaming practices. (PIA-NCR)
